About the Festival

The Grand Avenue Merchants’ Association will be hosting the free 3rd annual Grand Avenue Festival on October 22nd, from 3 to 11 pm. The festival will be a celebration of the vibrant culture, art, history and adaptive re-use of the Lower Grand Avenue arts and small business district and adjoining neighborhoods.

Small businesses and art spaces along this unique and historic travel corridor will host tours of vintage commercial buildings and interesting adaptive re-use projects; create art exhibits; sponsor performances and music; and provide other special activities that highlight the history of this distinctive area of downtown. The goal of the Festival is to underscore the importance of neighborhood sustainability, encourage creative recycling, and foster reuse of valuable neighborhood resources.

The ReDapt Commercial Building Tours will take place from 3 – 7 pm guided by local history experts (ticket are $10 in advance/for info grandavephoenix.com) which will include a stop at the newly renovated Roberto Ven School of Luthiery (guitar making). Visitors will also be able to tour the newly renovated 1960’s Oasis Motel on their own at 15th Avenue and Grand.

Musicians will be set up along the street and at various venues throughout the afternoon and evening. One of the much anticipated highlights of the Festival each year is the Recycled Rubbish Fashion Show headed up by local artist Babsomatic. In addition, the Local Boutiques Fashion Show will highlight clothing and Jewelry from popular Grand Avenue fashion venues such as Indie ArtHouse, Annie Boomer’s Vintage, Gallery Marsiglia Jewelry, ShopDevious, Nostra Style House and others.

Check back here for festival updates, or join the GAMA email list.